Fire-protector.



R. C. STRAIGHT. FIRE PROTECTOR. APPLICATION IIL'ED SEPT. '1'4. 1909.

991,909. Patented May 9, 1911.

ROBERT C. STRAIGHT, OF DEARBORN, MICHIGAN.

FIRE-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Application filed September 14, 1909. Serial No. 517,709.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. STRAIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dearborn, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Protectors;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic fireprotectors and more particularly to that class adapted to be used inpublic buildings such as school houses and the like and my object is toprovide for discharging water onto the stair- Ways of a building.

A further object is to provide suitable connections for conveying waterthrough the parts of the building.

A still further object is to provide spraying devices for dischargingthe water in jets and a still further object is to provide a form ofspraying jet which will serve as an anchor for the plaster or wallcovering of the building.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and moreparticularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1is a diagrammatic view showing my improved protector applied to use.Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one of the spraying devices, and, Fig. 3is a side elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates the wallsof a building and 2 the stairways therefor and in order to protect thestairways from fire, and at the same time discharge water upon thepersons dcscending upon the stairways, a main pipe 3 is extendedupwardly in the wall 1, said pipe having tees 4: at certain intervals towhich are attached auxiliary pipes 5.

The auxiliary pipes 5 are preferably extended above each stairway andmay be embedded in the ceiling 6, said auxiliary pipes having aplurality of tees and nipples 7 thereon, to which are attached nozzles8, which nozzles are preferably semi-globular and hollow and providedwith a plurality of openings 9, through which the water is dischargedonto the stairway and by painting the nozzles the same color as thecolor of the ceiling against which they rest, the presence of saidnozzles will not be conspicuous.

The first consequence of flooding a building with water is usually tocause the plastcr on the walls and more especially on the ceilings tocrack and drop oil. The danger to occupants from this source isespecially great where a form of stationary fire system which dischargeslarge quantities of water on the floors of the building is used. Thisdisadvantage has been overcome in the present instance by forming thedischarge nozzles as hemispheres, the flat back surfaces of which pressagainst the plaster of the ceiling and anchor it in place. It willreadily be seen that without greatly increasing its cost, I have thusproduced a stationary fire system which besides being not unsightly, isa safeguard against loss of property and injury through the destroyingeffect of the water on the plastered walls.

The main pipe 3 is provided with a valve 10, which is preferably placedagainst the ground floor and in position to be grasped and operated topermit the water to flow through the main and auxiliary pipes so that incase of fire, the opening of the valve 10 will permit the Water to flowthrough the main and auxiliary pipes and be discl'iarged through thenozzles 8 and in View of the plurality of openings in the nozzles, thewater will be sprayed in jets over the entire stairway and over personspassing on the stair-ways.

It will be readily understood that this device can be used in any partsof the building, such as rooms, hallways, etc., and Will serve toextinguish the fire while it is in its incipiency. It will likewise beseen that the device can be installed after the building is erected, butas it is preferred to conceal the same from view, it should be installedwhen the building is being erected so that the plastering can be placedover the pipe and said pipes thus removed from view and the additionalsecuring effect of the nozzles utilized.

The main pipe 3 may be extended to any suitable source of water supply,such as water mains, hydrants, tanks, or may be placed in position to beconnected direct to fire engines or other pumping devices, but as saidwater supply may be obtained in many ways, it is not deemed necessary toshow the same in the drawing as the construction and operation will bereadily apparent.

and hemispherical spraying nozzles secured to said stems and havingtheir flat surfaces in contact with said plastering, all substan- 15tially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT C. STRAIGHT.

Witnesses:

LOUIS W. Hown, JnNNm E. Hows.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G. a

